Scout/Guide Law
What the exam tests
Recall of the BSG Law point by point, and the harder skill of applying a point to a situation instead of merely reciting.
The Law in BSG wording
- A Scout is trustworthy.
- A Scout is loyal.
- A Scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other Scout (Guides say sister to every other Guide).
- A Scout is courteous.
- A Scout is a friend to animals and loves nature.
- A Scout is disciplined and helps protect public property.
- A Scout is courageous.
- A Scout is thrifty.
- A Scout is pure in thought, word and deed.
How to apply it
Trustworthy covers honesty, keeping promises and finishing what you start. Loyal covers standing by your patrol, school and country. Courteous is everyday manners, including to people you dislike. Disciplined and protects public property covers school furniture, bus seats, park benches and camp equipment. Thrifty means saving money, materials, food and time - not meanness. Pure in thought, word and deed covers language, gossip and fairness to others.
Worked example
A Scout sees a boy throwing stones at a stray dog. Name the behaviour first, then match the nearest point: friend to animals and loves nature is the primary point; friend to all applies if people are also being put at risk. Reasoning: examiners accept the closest point plus one line of justification, not a list of all nine.
Traps
- Mixing Law with Promise: the Promise is the pledge, the Law is the standard you are measured against.
- Importing wording from other countries' laws, such as 'A Scout is cheerful' or 'A Scout obeys orders'.
- Forgetting that Guides substitute 'sister'.